Laurel Decher

Kid-powered fun and a new Valentine fairy tale for ages 9 to 12 - Laurel Decher The medieval Christmas fair in Siegburg, Germany has wonderful, kid-powered entertainment. Check out the Viking ships and the wooden carousel. Fun you can make for yourself and your family is the best!

Kid-powered fun and a new Valentine fairy tale for ages 9 to 12 https://laureldecher.com/kid-powered-fun-and-a-new-valentine-fairy-tale-for-ages-9-to-12/

A Novel Way for Young Readers to Relate to Faith? - Laurel Decher Last week, my husband and I visited Marburg, the town where we first met. In 2017, Marburg joined many cities in Germany in a celebration of Martin Luther and

A Novel Way for Young Readers to Relate to Faith? https://laureldecher.com/a-novel-way-for-young-readers-to-relate-to-faith/

Tame Your Revision Step-by-Step: SLICE AND LABEL with Scrivener - Laurel Decher If you’re not a Scrivener person, feel free to adapt to your tool of choice. There’s more than one way to slice and dice a manuscript! :)

Tame Your Revision Step-by-Step: SLICE AND LABEL with Scrivener https://laureldecher.com/tame-your-revision-step-by-step-slice-and-label-with-scrivener/

6 ways rhythm helps us feel at home in a new world - Laurel Decher On the weekend, I practiced a new skill and had a sudden aha! moment about learning to adapt to a new culture by finding the beat.

6 ways rhythm helps us feel at home in a new world https://laureldecher.com/6-ways-rhythm-helps-us-feel-at-home-in-a-new-world/

Are you a parent, teacher or librarian? Enjoy these free online materials from children’s authors and illustrators!!! - Laurel Decher Vermont author Kate Messner has a marvelous collection of author videos!!!!

Are you a parent, teacher or librarian? Enjoy these free online materials from children’s authors and illustrators!!! https://laureldecher.com/are-you-a-parent-teacher-or-librarian-enjoy-these-free-online-materials-from-childrens-authors-and-illustrators/

The Book Club for Kids talks satisfying reads and Gary D. Schmidt’s ORBITING JUPITER - Laurel Decher The Book Club for Kids episode is about Gary D. Schmidt’s Orbiting Jupiter.

The Book Club for Kids talks satisfying reads and Gary D. Schmidt’s ORBITING JUPITER https://laureldecher.com/the-book-club-for-kids-talks-satisfying-reads-and-gary-d-schmidts-orbiting-jupiter/

How To Make A Tiny Edition Of A Book - Laurel Decher Making a tiny book come out correctly is a bit tricky! Here’s how I finally got the pages to print in the right order for the first book in my series for ages 9 to 12. If you are interested in a bit of amateur bookbinding, you might enjoy the challenge.

How To Make A Tiny Edition Of A Book https://laureldecher.com/how-to-make-a-tiny-edition-of-a-book/

The Comfort of Home Food: Bagels in Leiden, The Netherlands - Laurel Decher A German Brötchen is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

The Comfort of Home Food: Bagels in Leiden, The Netherlands https://laureldecher.com/the-comfort-of-home-food-bagels-in-leiden-the-netherlands/

It’s a Pilgrim Life - Laurel Decher You can’t be a pro the first time you try something new. That’s a repeated theme in my middle grade books, but I’m still learning it! In September, I tried to hike on a famous pilgrimage route--Via Francigena. I thought it was going to work, because I got an excessively-detailed guidebook from the library, set low expectations for how far we could walk, made hotel and train reservations, and kind of expected the weather to cooperate. Because it was Italy. Read about my #PilgrimFail.

Recently, I've found even more surprises close to home by following local pilgrim routes. It’s a Pilgrim Life https://laureldecher.com/its-a-pilgrim-life/ #TryingNewThings #Pilgrimage

Multiplication tables for kids: what magic is this? Multiplication tables for kids: How can you help your kids build fortress-strong skills? Are you looking for ways to encourage kids who are learning their times tables? Did you know that moving helps kids learn multiplication? These tips and a really fun video about the dreaded SEVENS times table popped up while I was researching for a magical adventure for kids ages 9 to 12: Under Pressure With a Squash: The Multiplication Problem. . .

Multiplication Magic https://laureldecher.com/multiplication-magic/

Writing Gratitude Count-down: (1) The Gift of Attention - Laurel Decher I keep realizing how many people have generously encouraged my writing. It’s so easy to send out queries and focus on the--sometimes deafening--silence, but

Writing Gratitude Count-down: (1) The Gift of Attention https://laureldecher.com/10-kinds-of-writing-help-im-grateful-for-1-attention/

6 ways rhythm helps us feel at home in a new world - Laurel Decher On the weekend, I practiced a new skill and had a sudden aha! moment about learning to adapt to a new culture by finding the beat.

6 ways rhythm helps us feel at home in a new world https://laureldecher.com/6-ways-rhythm-helps-us-feel-at-home-in-a-new-world/

Do you have kids who are smart and creative and nobody notices? - Laurel Decher Shy or quiet kids can get easily overlooked if they don’t learn public speaking skills. #nobodyhearsyou If this topic comes up in your house or class, you might enjoy a zany fairy tale adventure about what can go wrong . . . and right. . . when a quiet inventor princess learns to speak up! For ages 9 to 12, but the whole family can enjoy it.

Do you have kids who are smart and creative and nobody notices? https://laureldecher.com/do-you-have-kids-who-are-smart-and-creative-and-nobody-notices/

4 Things Trappist Monks know about Safe Spaces for Creativity - Laurel Decher Lately, I’ve been thinking about safe spaces to create art. On the weekend, we visited Abbey Mariawald, famous for its split-pea soup. Judging from the number

4 Things Trappist Monks know about Safe Spaces for Creativity https://laureldecher.com/4-things-trappist-monks-know-about-safe-spaces-for-creativity/

A collection of Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tales! - Laurel Decher Spend time with smart kids on a mission in the fun & magical world of the Seven Kingdoms! This collection of Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tales includes Trouble With Parsnips, Lost With Leeks, and Under Pressure With a Squash. 752 pages of pure reading enjoyment.

A collection of Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tales! https://laureldecher.com/seven-kingdoms-fairy-tales-collection/

Please Welcome These Giants Into Your Library - Laurel Decher Giant Trouble: The Mystery of the Magic Beans is a hilarious romp for ages 9 to 12. It’s also a story about not feeling welcome. So many people are

Please Welcome These Giants Into Your Library https://laureldecher.com/please-welcome-these-giants-into-your-library/

Passport to Castles in Germany - Laurel Decher Find out about a passport your kids can enjoy while your family discovers the beautiful castles of the MIddle Rhine Valley in Germany! There’s also a free onlline tool to create a coat of arms. (You’ve been meaning to update your family’s coat of arms, haven’t you??) Come explore the area that inspired my Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tale books for ages 9 to 12.

Picture books are excellent for exploring all ages. This passport for kids explores World Heritage Site castles in Germany. Passport to Castles in Germany https://laureldecher.com/passport-to-castles-in-germany/ #VisitKoblenz #ExpatFamily #VisitGermany

Library + School Visits - Laurel Decher Have you ever had a notebook that was too beautiful to write in, so you never did?

This make-and-tame-your-own-notebook workshop was inspired by a friend's daughter who didn't ever write in "fancy notebooks" only on scraps of paper. Library + School Visits https://laureldecher.com/library-love/libary-school-visits/ #SchoolVisits #AuthorVisits

Tour Cochem Kingdom: the real home of TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS - Laurel Decher For your reading pleasure, a shiny new edition is in the works! The nameless inventor princess of Cochem is headed to Kickstarter to build something new!

The first time I saw this castle, there were rooks flying around the tower. #FairyTale #VisitCochem Tour Cochem Kingdom: the real home of TROUBLE WITH PARSNIPS https://laureldecher.com/tour-cochem-kingdom/

Readers - Laurel Decher I’ve collected more activities and mini-tours on the Fun Extras page. Fun for the whole family!

Fun free resources to explore Germany's castles with the kids! Readers https://laureldecher.com/readers/ #ExpatFamily #VisitGermany #MIttelrhein

Exploring: A word in favor of happy bees - Laurel Decher In graduate school, my major professor, Dr. Sandra Melnick, gave me some good advice about moving to a new place:

Exploring: A word in favor of happy bees https://laureldecher.com/exploring-a-word-in-favor-of-happy-bees/

Do you know kids who get lost all the time? - Laurel Decher My brother was (and is!) excellent at finding his way around. Like Nero, I had to work at learning how to find my way. My big brother became a navigator in

Do you know kids who get lost all the time? https://laureldecher.com/do-you-know-kids-who-get-lost-all-the-time/

Washerwomen Day, Rose Monday, and Carnival (Karneval) - Laurel Decher Rose Monday is the crown of Germany’s Karneval in the Rhineland. In the last days before Lent, people of all ages stroll the city in gorgeous costumes. Sometimes I also run into young men dressed in convenient cow costumes with a single zipper up the front. Learn more about this colorful holiday and how you can enjoy it with your family in the Seven Kingdoms.

Washerwomen Day, Rose Monday, and Carnival (Karneval) https://laureldecher.com/washerwomen-day-rose-monday-and-carnival-karneval/

It’s a Pilgrim Life - Laurel Decher You can’t be a pro the first time you try something new. That’s a repeated theme in my middle grade books, but I’m still learning it! In September, I tried to hike on a famous pilgrimage route--Via Francigena. I thought it was going to work, because I got an excessively-detailed guidebook from the library, set low expectations for how far we could walk, made hotel and train reservations, and kind of expected the weather to cooperate. Because it was Italy. Read about my #PilgrimFail.

Went on another little pilgrim walk last week and discovered a hidden museum. This is the pilgrimage that started it all. It’s a Pilgrim Life https://laureldecher.com/its-a-pilgrim-life/

The Comfort of Home Food: Bagels in Leiden, The Netherlands - Laurel Decher A German Brötchen is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Homesick giants have their eye on William's cooking. Did he make their friend fall into a deep, deep sleep?
The Comfort of Home Food: Bagels in Leiden, The Netherlands https://laureldecher.com/the-comfort-of-home-food-bagels-in-leiden-the-netherlands/ #ExpatFamily #TheBagelDidn'tDoIt

Get a hilarious adventure for your kids on GooglePlay Books! - Laurel Decher It’s the perfect time to go blissfully astray . . . planning for a vegetable garden, on a hike, or in a fun children’s book!

Get a hilarious adventure for your kids on GooglePlay Books! https://laureldecher.com/get-a-hilarious-adventure-for-your-kids-on-googleplay-books/

Are you feeling it? Emotional Connection in Fiction Part 1 - Laurel Decher Feedback on your writing craft can be so useful. Unless you can’t figure out what your readers are talking about. If you’re a writer who keeps getting comments about adding emotion to your story, this post (and the one connected to it) are for you. How to handle feedback that says: “I like it, but I’m not loving it”.

Feelings are hard! But this piano design is amazing! :) Here's a two-part series about the craft of emotions in fiction. Are you feeling it? Emotional Connection in Fiction Part 1 https://laureldecher.com/are-you-feeling-it-emotional-connection-in-fiction-part-1/ #WritingCraft

Read from THE WOUNDED BOOK - Laurel Decher Read a sample chapter of my work-in-progress for ages 9 to 12. It’s an exciting tale of music and adventure in the middle ages.

I'm longing to get back into this work-in-progress (read Chapter 1). I visited an inspiring location this summer. Read from THE WOUNDED BOOK https://laureldecher.com/thewoundedbook/thewoundedbookexcerpt/ #HistoryForKids #MiddleAges #TheWoundedBook

Writing Gratitude Countdown (6): The Gift of a Professional Eye - Laurel Decher This is the sixth post in my Writing Gratitude Countdown. As we gain more experience as writers, we learn to value different things. (The earlier posts are:

Getting someone who knows to look at your work is a great honor . . . Writing Gratitude Countdown (6): The Gift of a Professional Eye https://laureldecher.com/writing-gratitude-countdown-6-the-gift-of-a-professional-eye/ #gratitude

When Helping Feels like a Festival - Laurel Decher What does it feel like to be a vintner for a day? Hopeful, that’s how! The Ahr valley asked for helpers after the recent flooding. Everything was well organized. They would have to be--there were 600 volunteer jobs to be given out on the day I was there. My friend and I were helping by taking off extra leaves so the sun can get at the grapes.

When Helping Feels like a Festival https://laureldecher.com/when-helping-feels-like-a-festival/